Overview of Athina Onassis Roussel
Athina Onassis Roussel is an accomplished equestrian known for being the sole heiress of the billionaire Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis. Her life has been marked by numerous challenges and tribulations, both due to legal issues surrounding her vast fortune and personal struggles. Born on January 29, 1985, in France, the separation process between her father, Thierry Roussel, and her mother, Christina, began just eight months after her birth due to their ongoing disputes. Tragically, Athina lost her mother at the age of three when Christina was found deceased in the home of a friend in Argentina due to pulmonary edema. At that time, she was only thirty-seven years old.
The Onassis Legacy
Athina’s grandfather, Aristotle Onassis, was one of the most remarkable entrepreneurs of the 20th century, amassing a billion-dollar empire that included two Greek islands and substantial investments worldwide. His death was deeply felt, particularly following the tragic loss of his son, Alexander, in a plane crash, leading to the inheritance passing to his daughter Christina, Athina’s mother. Following Christina’s untimely death, Athina became the sole heir to her mother’s estate.
According to legal stipulations, Athina would not be able to access her significant inheritance until she turned eighteen. This circumstance prompted her father to raise her in Switzerland, providing her with a more ordinary upbringing away from wealth. Thierry, a French national, fought for years to gain control over his daughter’s inheritance.
Athina Onassis’s Life with Her Father and Step-Mother
During her childhood, Athina did not receive a larger allowance than her three half-siblings from her father’s marriage to Gaby Roussel. Her father emphasized that he wanted her to understand that “money is not a golden idol to be revered.” Athina managed to save her allowance and used it to care for her beloved horse. She attended a public school, all while living under constant threats of kidnapping, necessitating a dedicated security team for her protection.
As she approached her eighteenth birthday, Athina moved to Brussels to pursue her passion for horseback riding at the Nelson Pessoa Riding Academy. There, she met her future husband, Brazilian equestrian Alvaro Alfonso de Miranda, known as “Doda.” To be nearer to him, she later relocated to São Paulo. Concerned about Alvaro’s intentions, her father took measures to tighten his control over her inheritance. Athina subsequently engaged in a legal battle against him, which she won, supposedly straining their relationship. When Athina married Alvaro, her father was absent from the wedding.
Athina Onassis and Her Inheritance
Upon turning eighteen, Athina gained access to her inheritance. However, it represented only half of what her grandfather intended for her. Aristotle Onassis had planned for her to take charge of the charitable foundation he established in memory of his son when she turned twenty-one. Unfortunately, the foundation’s board altered its charter, stripping her of the legal right to assume the role of chairperson at that milestone, citing her lack of proficiency in the Greek language. Determined to claim her rightful position, Athina took it upon herself to learn Greek in hopes of winning over the organization’s directors.